MVCAC

The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) has 61 member agencies in counties throughout California. The association provides quality public information, comprehensive mosquito and vector borne disease surveillance, and mosquito control training.

The association and its member agencies — working at the county level as mosquito and vector control districts — form the front line of defense against the spread of West Nile Virus and other vector-borne diseases in California.

The association needed a way to disseminate information quickly and economically to its 61 member agencies. Faxing and emailing the information was slow, labor intensive, and expensive.

In 2000, the association adopted WebEx WebOffice, then known as Intranets.com, as its communications and collaboration vehicle with member agencies.

"The WebEx WebOffice is currently helping us to focus on issues related to West Nile Virus. We keep research, charts and information there on a regular basis to monitor our progress."

- Russ Parman, Assistant Manager for the Santa Clara County Vector Control District, and WebOffice Administrator for MVCAC

WebEx WebOffice provides for the instant dissemination of time-sensitive information to mosquito and vector control agencies statewide. “We are using the WebEx WebOffice Announcement Board to focus right now on issues related to West Nile Virus and we’ll be posting announcements there on a regular basis,” says Russ Parman, Assistant Manager for the Santa Clara County Vector Control District, and Intranet Administrator for MVCAC.

Some 196 individuals throughout California are users of the MVCAC intranet, powered by WebEx WebOffice. “Typically we see roughly 35 users logging on per day. It can range from 12 to 60 per day depending on what’s going on,” Parman says.

WebEx WebOffice facilitates online collaboration among widely dispersed committee members working on common problems.

MVCAC uses the WebEx WebOffice Database Manager to document the Continuing Education Program — tracking the program approval process, program attendance records for between 700 and 800 employees throughout the state, and the accumulation of unit credits for certification of participating individuals.

MVCAC uses the WebEx WebOffice Document Manager to post scientific information that has long-term reference value to the member agencies and their employees.

MVCAC’s committees statewide have been active users of WebEx WebOffice’s Discussion Forums. “The Public Education Committee for the association, in particular, has been quite active in using the WebEx WebOffice Discussion Forum as a collaboration tool.”

“We started using WebEx WebOffice, then known as Intranets.com, in December of 2000. We are charter members and we plan to stay that way,” Parman concluded.